Sweetpotato plant named ‘L96-117’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of sweetpotato identified as ‘L96-117’ is disclosed having superior processing qualities and a high total-sugar content. ‘L96-117’ is characterized by an intense orange flesh and an elongated root.

This invention pertains to a new and distinct variety of sweet potato.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Genus and species name: This new and distinct sweetpotato variety,Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., demonstrates both superior processingqualities and high total-sugar content as compared to other availablesweetpotato varieties known to the inventors.

Variety denomination: This new and distinct sweetpotato variety isidentified as ‘L96-117’, and is characterized by its dark orange fleshand its elongated roots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sweetpotatoes, unlike Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), are not tuberpropagated plants. A “tuber” is a short, thickened portion of anunderground branch. Along a tuber are found “eyes,” each of whichcomprises a ridge bearing a scale-like leaf (analogous to a branch leaf)having minute meristematic buds in the axial of the leaf. By contrast,sweet potato roots are developmentally and anatomically true roots,lacking meristematic buds, and are not derived from an undergroundbranch. Sweet potatoes do not form tubers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The file of this patent contains at least one photograph executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph of the growth form of the novel variety ofsweet potato identified as ‘L96-117’.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph of the growth form of the sweet potatovariety identified as ‘Beauregard’.

FIG. 3 is a color photograph of the canopy biomass of the novel varietyof sweetpotato identified as ‘L96-117’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

This new variety of sweetpotato, identified as ‘L96-117’, resulted froman open pollinated cross to the Louisiana Agricultural ExperimentStation female parent ‘L91-189’ (unpatented) which was performed in1995. The male parent is unkown. No patented male parents were amongpotential pollen sources in the crossing nursery. ‘L96-117’ wasdeveloped by the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station in BatonRouge, La., to provide a variety with characteristics similar to‘Beauregard’ (unpatented), but with improved processing qualities. Thefemale parent ‘L91-189’ (unpatented) had similar disease resistance.‘L91-189’ was discarded as a parent and no longer exists because of poorroot shape; hence no comparison is given.

Color terminology used herein is in accordance with the MUNSELL® colorcharts for plant tissue and the MUNSELL® Book of Color for root skin andflesh determination (Munsell Color, GretagMacbeth LLC, New Windsor,N.Y.). The color descriptions and color illustrations are as nearly trueas is reasonably possible. However, it is understood that both color andother phenotypic expressions described herein may vary from plant toplant with differences in growth, environment and cultural conditions,without any change in the genotype of the variety ‘L96-117’.

‘L96-117’ roots were stored during the winter at the LouisianaAgricultural Experiment Station (Sweetpotato Research Station) in Chase,La. During the following spring ‘L96-117’ was planted and producedapproximately 8-10 sprouts, which were cut and transplanted successfullyfor asexual reproduction. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar bycuttings at the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station has shown thatthe unique features of this new sweetpotato are stable and the plantreproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation. Plants described herein are approximately 90-110 days inage from planting in full sun field plantings.

FIG. 1 depicts the fleshy root form of the ‘L96-117’ sweetpotato. Skinvaries in color from light to dark rose, and is typically darker than‘Beauregard’ at harvest (skin color lightens in storage). See‘Beauregard’ as depicted in FIG. 2. Skin is smooth, similar to that of‘Beauregard’; however, the flesh is more uniformly orange than‘Beauregard’, as depicted in FIG. 2. The cortex is 3-4 mm in depth.Colorimetric evaluations using the aforementioned color charts of skinand flesh for both ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ storage roots at harvest,are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Variety Color^(z) Skin ‘L96-117’ 5 R (red)(4/6) ‘Beauregard’ 7.5R (red)(5/6) Cortex ‘L96-117’ 2.5 Y (yellow) R (red)(7/12) ‘Beauregard’5 Y (yellow) R (red)(8/6) Flesh ‘L96-117’ 2.5 Y (yellow) R (red)(7/12)‘Beauregard’ 2.5 Y (yellow) R (red)(7/10) ^(z)Data represent color scalevalue using the MUNSELL ® Book of Color, color-order system.

FIG. 3 depicts the canopy biomass of the ‘L96-117’ sweetpotato.‘L96-117’ has green-stemmed vines [5 G (green) Y (yellow) (4/6)] fromthe apex to about 25 cm from the apex. The vines gradually change to agreen with a purple cast [2.5 Y (yellow) R (red) (4/6)] at the crown ofthe roots. The appearance of the canopy biomass is greater than‘Beauregard’ and less than another variety know as ‘Jewel’ (unpatented;not shown). See FIG. 2. The canopy architecture is prostrate (28-30 cmin height from the soil surface) and spreads to a radius of 45 cm,similar to ‘Beauregard’. Between 3 to 4 main vines arise from the mainstem near the soil surface. The main stem has a 1.5-2.0 cm diameter. Themain vines have a length of 72-140 cm, a diameter of 0.4 cm at adistance of 65 cm from the base, a diameter of 1.0 cm at the base, and adiameter of 0.3 cm at the first internode of the first fully developedleaf from the apex. Between 2 to 5 lateral branches arise from each ofthe main vines. The length of the first internode beginning at the apexbetween the first and the second fully developed leaf is 7 cm. Theinternode length for other sections of the vine average between 6 to 7cm. The upper and the lower surfaces of the unfolded immature leaves aredark green [5 G (green) Y (yellow) (4/6)]. The upper surface colorgradually changes (over one to two nodes from the apex) to a darkergreen [5 G (green) Y (yellow) (3/4)], while the lower surface remainsunchanged. The leaf margins from the edge to about 1-1.5 mm are purple[5 R (red) P (purple) (3/6)]. Mature leaves which are located five tosix nodes away from the apex have an acute apex, a cordate base, and asmooth leaf margin. Each leaf has two moderate lobes in addition to themain lobe. Mature leaves have a length of 5.0 cm and a width of 7.0 cm.The abaxial veins are indistinguishable from the leaf in color [5 G(green) Y (yellow) (3/4)]. The adaxial veins are dark purple [5R (red) P(purple) (3/8)]. The petiole changes from purple [5 R (red) P (purple)(3/4)] near the leaf junction to green [7.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (4/4)]near the node. The petiole has a length of approximately 5 to 6 cm at adistance of five nodes from the apex, and has a diameter of 2-3 mm at adistance of 4 cm from the leaf junction. The dormant nodal meristem isalso purple [5 R (red) P (purple) (4/6)].

A typical inflorescence of ‘L96-117’ has 7-8 flowers per peduncle. Thepeduncle is green [7.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (5/6)], and has a length ofapproximately 6 to 7 cm and a diameter of 2 mm. The flower bud (one daybefore opening) has a length of approximately 3 to 3.5 cm from the baseof the calyx (calyx is 0.5 cm wide) to the tip of the closed corolla,and a maximum width of 0.5 cm. Bud shape is fusiform. The closed corollais a purple [5 R (red) P (purple) (5/6)]. Sepal color and size aresimilar to an opened flower (described in more detail below). Theindividual opened flowers have a length of 4 to 5 cm from the base ofthe calyx. The five fused flower petals have a pentagonal pattern with asmooth edge and the corolla is 4 cm wide. The inner throat of thecorolla is purple [5 R (red) P (purple) (5/8)], but changes to a lighterpurple [5 R (red) P (purple) (8/4)] at the outer surface. The inner andouter limb of the corolla (corolla's outermost area, distal from thecalyx) is a light purple [5 R (red) P (purple) (8/4)]. The five sepals,which form the calyx, are green [7.5 G (green) Y (yellow) (5/6)] (innerand outer surface), and have an elliptic shape with a cordate apex. Thelength and width of the sepal are 7 mm and 4 mm, respectively. The sepalmargins are smooth. The stigma is white ([Munsell Grays R (red) Y(yellow) (9/10)] and has a length of 1.5 cm. Five stamens are attachedto the ovary and are inferior to the stigma. No fragrance is present.

EXAMPLE 1

Tests Conducted

To confirm that ‘L96-117’ was a new variety, controlled tests (e.g.,pathogen responses and yield) were conducted at the LouisianaAgricultural Experiment Station in Baton Rouge, La. ‘Beauregard’ wasselected for comparison tests with ‘L96-117’ because of its commercialdominance in the U.S. sweetpotato acreage. ‘Beauregard’ occupies morethan 70% of acreage devoted to sweetpotato in the U.S. Diseases thatcommonly affect the growth of sweet potatoes were selected to test forpathogen responses in both varieties. Scions of ‘L96-117’ and‘Beauregard’ reacted similarly to most diseases evaluated in thecontrolled tests. ‘L96-117’ was less resistant to fusarium wilt, causedby Fusarium axysporum Schlect. f. sp. batatas (Wollenw.) Synd. & Hans.,than was ‘Beauregard’. However, ‘L96-117’ exhibited higher resistance tosoil rot, caused by Streptomyces ipomoeae (Person and Martin) Waksman &Henrici., than did ‘Beauregard’.

Nematode reproduction was measured in greenhouse tests. ‘L96-117’exhibited higher resistance to the southern root-knot nematode,Meloidogyme incognita (Kofoid and White, 1919) Chitwood, 1949, race—3,than ‘Beauregard’. Both ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were susceptible tothe reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford & Oliveria,1940, ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were both resistant to the developmentof internal cork, a disease presumably caused by a virus (unknown).‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ exhibited similar resistance to fusarium rootrot caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. Emend. Snyd. & Hans.‘L96-117’ exhibited higher resistance to bacterial root rot, caused byErwinia chrysanthemi Burkholder, McFadden and Dimock, 1953, than did‘Beauregard’. ‘L96-117’ exhibited lower resistance to Rhizopusstolonifer (Her. Ex. Fr.) Lind., than did ‘Beauregard’. Circular spot,caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., varied from a low to a highincidence in both ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’.

No formal trials have been conducted to date on ‘L96-117’ for insectpests. ‘L96-117’ does not appear to show any novel insect resistance.Both ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ show similar levels of susceptibility toimportant insect pests, most notably the banded cucumber beetle,Diabrotica balteata LeConte, and white grub, Phyllophaga ephilda Say.

To determine yield production, complete-block trials using fourreplications of ‘96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ each were conducted at twodifferent Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station locations, BurdenResearch Plantation in Baton Rouge, La. and the Sweet Potato ResearchStation in Chase, La. Both ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were transplantedin randomized complete-block trials at 31, 36, and 41 cm spacings, inLoring silt loam soil at the Burden Research Plantation and Gilbert siltloam soil at the Sweet Potato Research Station. Each block/plot wasfertilized with 250 pounds per acre of nitrogen, P₂O₅, and K₂O (about250 pounds per acre of 13% N, 13% P₂O₅, and 13% K₂O, 13—13—13 mixedfertilizer). ‘L96-117’ was compared to ‘Beauregard’ at early and middletransplanting dates at each location beginning in June. Average yieldswere measured for the following grades of roots: U.S. #1 (51-89 mm indiameter, 76-229 mm long); Canner (25-51 mm in diameter, 51-178 mmlong); and Jumbo (larger than U.S. #1 in diameter, length or both, andwithout objectionable defects). A typical marketable root of ‘L96-117’has a length of 130-140 mm, a diameter of 60-70 mm, and a shape that ismostly round-elliptic. The base or distal end of ‘L96-117’ tends to bemore elongated, while the apex or proximal end is slightly rounder. U.S.#1 roots weigh between 200 to 240 g. In comparison, U.S. #1 roots of‘Beauregard’ weigh between 250-300 g, are less elongate at 17 cm inlength in comparison to ‘L96-117’ at 20 cm in length. Root widths forboth are, 5-7 cm. The cortex of ‘L96-117’ is 0.4 cm versus 0.5 cm for‘Beauregard’.

Early transplanting date trials were conducted at the Burden ResearchPlantation. ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were transplanted on June 13 andharvested on October 11 (120 days after planting). Producers usuallyconsider 110 to 125 days a typical development period between plantingand harvesting. (Variability occurs due to weather conditions.) Averageyields, measured at Mg.ha⁻¹, are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Selection (spacing, in cm) US #1^(†) Canners^(†) Jumbos^(†)TMY^(†) ‘L96-117’ (41) 22.8a 5.5b 1.2bc 29.5ab ‘L96-117’ (36) 22.8a5.7ab 2.8abc 31.3a ‘L96-117’ (31) 21.9a 5.8ab 2.6bc 30.2ab ‘Beauregard’(41) 22.4a 5.3b 4.0ab 31.7a ‘Beauregard’ (36) 22.8a 6.4ab 5.6a 34.8a‘Beauregard’ (31) 25.1a 6.8ab 4.2ab 36.0a Least Significant 5.6 2.1 3.06.3 Difference LSD (P < 0.05) ^(†)Average yields of varieties followedby a common letter do not differ significantly (P < 0.05) according toDuncan's Multiple Range Test. TMY^(‡) = total marketable yield

Middle transplanting date trials were also conducted at the BurdenResearch Plantation. ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were transplanted onJune 22 and harvested on October 27 (127 days after planting). Averageyields (Mg.ha⁻¹) of ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ are shown in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Selection (Spacing, in cm) US #1^(†) Canners^(†) Jumbos^(†)TMY^(†) ‘L96-117’ (41) 13.4a 3.4b 1.7a 18.5ab ‘L96-117’ (36) 11.4a 5.8ab3.2a 20.3ab ‘L96-117’ (31) 10.5a 7.3ab 2.7a 20.6ab ‘Beauregard’ (41)7.6a 4.7ab 4.6a 16.9b ‘Beauregard’ (36) 14.2a 3.3b 4.1a 21.6ab‘Beauregard’ (31) 17.1a 13.4a 7.9a 38.5a Least Significant 7.5 7.0 6.115.5 Difference LSD (P < 0.05) ^(†)Average yields of varieties followedby a common letter do not differ significantly (P < 0.05) according toDuncan's Multiple Range Test. TMY = total marketable yield

Early transplanting date trials were also conducted at the Sweet PotatoResearch Station. ‘L96-117’ was transplanted on June 1 and harvested onSeptember 27 (118 days after planting). (‘Beauregard’ was not includedin this transplanting trial.) Average yields (Mg.ha⁻¹) by grade areshown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Selection (Spacing, in cm) US #1 Canners Jumbos TMY^(‡)‘L96-117’ (21) 30.3 11.5 4.4 41.9 ‘L96-117’ (36) 25.6 11.4 1.0 37.1‘L96-117’ (41) 25.2 10.7 0.8 36.0 Least Significant 7.8 4.1 5.4 7.5Difference LSD (P < 0.05) TMY = total marketable yield

Middle transplanting date trials were also conducted at the Sweet PotatoResearch Station. ‘L96-117’ and ‘Beauregard’ were transplanted on July12, and harvested on October 31 (111 days after planting) using 31, 36and 41 cm spacing. Average yields (Mg.ha⁻¹) by grade are shown in Table5.

TABLE 5 Selection (Spacing, in cm) US #1^(†) Canners^(†) Jumbos^(†)TMY^(†) ‘L96-117’ (41) 4.5c 9.1b 1.0a 13.6c ‘L96-117’ (36) 5.4bc 11.7ab0.9a 17.1bc ‘L96-117’ (31) 4.6c 11.7ab 2.4a 16.2c ‘Beauregard’ (41)10.1a 12.1ab 0.6a 22.1a ‘Beauregard’ (36) 9.2ab 11.5ab 1.6a 20.9ab‘Beauregard’ (31) 9.2ab 13.8a 0.6a 23.1a Least Significant 4.2 4.8 3.24.3 Difference LSD (P < 0.05) ^(†)Average yields of varieties followedby a common letter do not differ significantly (P < 0.05) according toDuncan's Multiple Range Test. TMY = total marketable yield

As shown in Tables 2-5, ‘L96-117’ produced yields comparable to‘Beauregard’ at early transplanting dates (95% of ‘Beauregard’ for U.S.#1 grade; 91% of ‘Beauregard’ for total marketable yield). Spacing hadno significant effect on yield. (At later planting dates, L96-117 hadyields slightly less than those of ‘Beauregard’, but still competitive.Replicated plots on sweet potato production farms have not shown anypredisposition of ‘L96-117’ to low yield characteristics in lateplantings.)

‘L96-117’ was also compared to ‘Beauregard’ for physiologicalattributes. Using replicates of seven month stored sweet potato roots,it was determined that ‘L96-117’ has an Alcohol Insoluble Solid (AIS)content (i.e., starch) of 14.5% (fresh wt. basis). By comparison,‘Beauregard’ has an AIS content of 11.4% (AIS content of freshlyharvested roots for ‘L96-117’ (25.2%) was similar to that of‘Beauregard’ (23.2%)). ‘L96-117’ had higher total sugars (6.7%, 10 gfresh wt. basis) as compared to that of ‘Beauregard’ (5.2%) for sevenmonth stored sweet potato roots. Puree-processed, freshly harvestedroots of ‘L96-117’ had higher total sugar content (84 mg/gm fresh wt.basis) than did a comparable sample of ‘Beauregard’ (37 mg/gm fresh wt.basis).

‘L96-117’ produces plants (sprouts) at an earliness and quantity similarto ‘Beauregard’. Days to harvest (about 110-120 days) are similar to,and sometimes greater than, ‘Beauregard’. The roots of ‘L96-117’ aremore elongated than those of ‘Beauregard’. Yield of total and number onegrade roots is slightly less than that of ‘Beauregard’. A primary use of‘L96-117’ is as a processor variety. Root length of ‘L96-117’ makes itless desirable for the fresh sweet potato market. However, the highsugar content and intense orange flesh of ‘L96-117’ make it well suitedfor production of a superior puree for uses such as baby food puree.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Ipomoea batatas plant named‘L96-117’, as described and illustrated.